Cold rules out Ronaldo

Twenty-four hours after Alex Ferguson admitted the sunnier climes of Spain would be an attraction for Cristiano Ronaldo, the brilliant winger was ruled out of Manchester United’s clash against Charlton with a heavy cold.

Ronaldo was replaced by Park Ji-sung, one of four changes for the Premiership leaders, which included the return of Louis Saha for his first start since New Year’s Day and goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak, who took over from broken nose victim Edwin van der Sar.

It is 20 years since Charlton last won at Old Trafford and their hopes of emulating that achievement were not helped by the absence of both first-choice central defenders, forcing Alan Pardew to hand £2.5m (€3.7m) newcomer Madjid Bougherra his debut.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Saha. Subs: Heaton, Brown, Larsson, Richardson, Silvestre.

Charlton: Carson, Sankofa, Bougherra, Diawara, Thatcher, Rommedahl, Song Billong, Holland, Faye, Ambrose, Marcus Bent. Subs: Randolph, Zheng, Lisbie, Hasselbaink, Hughes.

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)